TV PICK OF THE WEEK
This classy six-part series is one of the standout dramas of the year so far. I know we are only at the beginning of February but I suspect there will be few over the course of the next 11 months that will match it. The script by Iain Weatherby presents a believable set of characters, totally authentic dialogue and a narrative that takes some surprising twists and turns.
The calibre of the cast that the production has attracted gives you an idea of the quality of the story and writing. Lindsay Duncan plays Philippa ‘Phil’, a retired senior police officer. She meets up with a group of old school friends at the funeral of one of their contemporaries. Among them is Tom (Karl Johnson), former soldier Ken (Clarke Peters) who is also Phil’s old flame, retired doctor David (Peter Egan) and his wife Marion (Sue Johnston) who is also Tom’s sister.
They stay in a pub called The Truelovers’ Knot, named for a local story about two young lovers who hanged themselves in a suicide pact, and after a night of drinking and reminiscing they make a pact too. All in their early 70s, they have experienced loss and seen other friends and family members decline and they drunkenly agree that if one of them falls prey to serious illness or the prospect of an undignified end, they will find a way to help them to die.
Tom (Karl Johnson) in particular takes this agreement very seriously and eight months later, following a terminal cancer diagnosis, he contacts Ken and Phil to ask him for their help in ending his life. Then comes the cover-up where Phil’s police training comes in handy. The pair end up spending so much time together that Phil’s husband Nigel (Phil Davis) suspects them of having an affair, which takes the plot off in another interesting different direction.
Meanwhile a keen young police constable (Kiran Sonia Swar) suspects there is more to Tom’s death than at first appears and she doggedly pursues her own investigations despite being advised not to by her superiors. The way in which this all plays out is deftly handled, by the accomplished screenplay which addresses some profound moral questions around death and dying. It is also very moving on regret, love, friendship, second chances and the value of age and experience.